The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Orange lock up Babers
SYRACUSE, N.Y. » Dino Babers, head football coach at Syracuse University, will continue to lead the Orange for seasons to come.
Babers, a finalist for the 2018 George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award, and Syracuse University have reached an agreement on a contract extension that will keep him at the helm of of the program well into the future.
“A little over three years ago, I arrived at Syracuse University inspired by the great opportunity to coach at an institution with such a rich football legacy, hungry student-athletes, good facilities and a storied tradition of academic distinction,” Babers said. “It was a true honor to have accepted the head coach position then and I consider it a privilege today to be able to extendmy time coaching at Syracuse University. I am grateful to have the support, faith and trust of University leaders, the Orange community, our student-athletes and our fans. I am excited about what the future holds for Syracuse Football and look forward to our continued improvement and growth.”
Under Babers’ leadership, Syracuse Football has experienced great success—both on and off the field. Many are calling the 2018 season a breakthrough year for Babers and his team.
The Orange finished the regular season 9-3, undefeated in the Dome, and is headed to the Camping World Bowl, where it will take on No. 15 West Virginia University. At one point, the Orange ranked as high as No. 12 in both the Associated Press Top 25 and Amway Coaches’ Poll. The team, which appeared in all six releases of the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings, is seeking just the seventh 10-win season in school history.
Additionally, the team racked up several individual honors, including Babers being named the ACC’s co-coach of the year by the Associated Press and redshirt freshman Andre Szmyt becoming the first Syracuse kicker to win the Lou Groza Award, the highest honor for placekickers.
“Dino has led an exhilarating resurgence of football tradition at Syracuse University,” said John Wildhack, director of athletics. “On the field and off the field, Dino has demonstrated his deep commitment to our football program, our student-athletes, our communities and our fans. Not only is he an incredi-
leader, coach and mentor with great integrity and heart, he is also a tremendous ambassador for Syracuse University and the broader Central New York community.”
Chanc el l or Kent Syverud, who in 2015 called Babers the best person for the job, says he continues to be impressed with the coach’s character, vision for the program and commitment to excellence.
“Dino’s energy—both on and of f the field— is palpable, and his impact on Syracuse Football, and in particular on the student-athletes he coaches, has been nothing short of extraordinary,” Chancellor Syverud said. “Syracuse University is proud to have Dino leading Syracuse Football. I am confident we will continue to see great things from him, his staff and our student- athletes.”
Babers, who was named the 30th head football coach at Syracuse University in 2015, says while he appreciates the confidence he has received from many in the Orange community, there is still a lot of important work ahead to build a perennially competitive Power Five program.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the work our guys have done—in the classroom, on the field and in the weight room. Their dedication, grit and perseverance got us to where we are today. Now, we need to focus on where we want to go and how we get there. This is only the beginning,” Babers added.
Babers’ resume includes two head coaching stint s, most recently at Bowling Green University and previously at Eastern Il linois University. Babers has held coaching positions at the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Pit tsburgh, Texas A& M University, the University of Arizona, San Diego State University, Purdue University, Northern Arizona University, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Arizona State University and the University of Hawaii, his alma mater.
He earned a master’s degree in education and supervision from Arizona State University in 1987 and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Hawaii, where he was a four-year starter on the football team, in 1984.